Prius 1, Miata 0

Sigh.

So I need to change over lanes to exit. Prius behind me comes to the same conclusion at the same time as I do, and shoots over, speeding up to prevent me from coming over.

No big deal, floor it...and the Prius is now beside me. Downshift it, romp it again, and then give up and pull in behind the Prius. The little 1.6 Miata never stood a chance.

Should write a sad country music song about it. "I raced the Prius, and I lost".

I've never owned a 1.6 Miata. This makes me glad I haven't. I do own a Prius. My Miata has a 2.0 in it.

You probably need to buy a Prius now.....they spread a lot like AIDS.

As the current owner of a 2010 Prius and former owner of several 1.6 Miatae, I can empathize. My Prius is quicker than the Miata, which is seriously a sad statement. Some of what you experienced may have to do with the transmission. By time you lift, downshift and get back into the Miata's power band (such as it is), the CVT in the Prius has already found the ideal ratio and the electric motor is at full assist and the race is lost.

Thanks for reminding me how much I hate driving my Prius and how much I miss my Miata...

Klayfish wrote: By time you lift, downshift and get back into the Miata's power band (such as it is), the CVT in the Prius has already found the ideal ratio and the electric motor is at full assist and the race is lost. Thanks for reminding me how much I hate driving my Prius and how much I miss my Miata...

I hate any transmission that isn't a real three pedal manual. Having said that, with a F-440 car and several snowmobiles, I learned how useful a CVT is. Magazine after magazine crushes any ride out there with a CVT. That droning noise they complain about means the engine is operating at peak power throughout the speed range. And as was noted, the lack on gear change interruption equals a lower elapsed time to distance.

I don't understand the anti CVT complainers' point of view. If you insist on going non-manual, isn't having the best non-manual transmission, best?

This is what turbos are for. :)

In reply to codrus: Or B.A. Superchargers.

yamaha wrote: You probably need to buy a Prius now.....they spread a lot like AIDS.

Oh come on that's not fair. AIDS isn't a life sentence anymore, with drug cocktails you can live for generations with it these days. If I were a Pius owner I believe you instantly loose the will to live.

Well, if you have a B.A. ride, now is certainly a great time to sell! These fuel prices won't stay tanked forever. However I don't ever see myself sinking as low as a Prius.

In the end, he was driving a Prious and you were driving a Miata...The way I see it, you still won.

And don't forget that him having the jump on you is the real reason you never had a chance, and probably wouldn't have in the same situation with any other stock-ish Miata either.

Heaven help me, I can't believe I'm saying this, but the Prius certainly has it's time and place in the automotive world. I drive 50 miles each way to work...80% is highway. Morning commute is stupid early, so no traffic. But afternoon commute is at the start of Atlanta rush hour. Between work and shuttling the kids around, I'll put 30-35k on my car in one year. I don't have the time or skills to be messing with a DD that needs a lot of upkeep. So if your criteria are:
Eat a E36 M3 load of miles
Carry at least 4 or 5 people
Be very fuel efficient (with the miles I drive, it adds up...I average 45mpg in the Prius)
Dead nuts reliable
Not a punishment to spend time in
Hold at least some resale value after it hits 200,000 miles

The field of cars hitting all those criteria is damn small. That's the Prius' place, as the perfect appliance.

Though I will say that it's currently my one and only car. When I bought it 6 months ago, I had intended to buy another toy sometime this winter. Those plans could be changing, where I won't be buying a toy. While I recognize and applaud the Prius for being damn good at the criteria above, I'm not sure I can live with it long term as my only street car...I'd be very tempted to say screw it and find something much more fun, fitting as many of the criteria as I can. The Prius is amazingly boring to drive.

My sister has two. One for her, one their kids to drive to college. She loves saving the planet and driving boringmobiles.

Her husband drives this.

There may be some hope for the kids after all.

I will say, if a Prius would do what I need it to do for work, I would drive one every day. It's too small and too weak.

Not sure where this thread is/was heading, but for a high miles commute, and if you want three pedals, why not a VW diesel? Hard to get less than 40 mpg.

kb58 wrote: Not sure where this thread is/was heading, but for a high miles commute, and if you want three pedals, why not a VW diesel? Hard to get less than 40 mpg.

Because VW

And diesel fuel is $.70 to $.90/gallon more than 87 unleaded. It not only wipes out any fuel mileage savings, it makes the car more expensive to run than a gas engine.

A few Priuii have tried that on me... 2200#s and 170hp seem to shut them down pretty quickly

The only time I've ever gotten 2 speeding tickets in 1 day I was driving a rented Prius.

Couldn't it have been a Challenger? Or a Mustang? Or a Camaro? Or....

Embarrassing.

For a minute there, I thought you stuffed it. Then I read the thread.

when Prius came out in 2001 I bought a new corolla for about a 10K$$ savings. thats a lot of gas. Still driving it in 2015. 207,000 miles. 40mpg hwy 36 city. roughly same interior room. Compare both now. Nearly same comparison. Plus the corolla comes with a manual. Thats a win right there.

gunner wrote: when Prius came out in 2001 I bought a new corolla for about a 10K$$ savings. thats a lot of gas. Still driving it in 2015. 207,000 miles. 40mpg hwy 36 city. roughly same interior room. Compare both now. Nearly same comparison. Plus the corolla comes with a manual. Thats a win right there.

2015 Corolla 28/37, 31 combined
2015 Prius 51/48, 50 combined

So, 62% better fuel economy, and a berkeleyton more utility.

Price difference is $7300

For reference:

2001 Prius: 41/42, 41 combined
2001 Corolla: 28/37, 31 combined

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=16705&id=16702

I feel your pain. My commute is through 4 highways of E36 M3 Austin traffic. I'm on the verge of giving up and buying a Prius. Matter of fact, time to check Craigslist while gas prices are down....

I don't care, I'll still drive my Miata and smile while Prius owners snooze in their appliances.

calteg and KyAllroad are both right. No matter how many different angles I look at it from, with my sometimes ugly commute, family needs, etc...the Prius is "the answer" from a logical perspective. It just is. But without a toy, so much of me wants to say berkeley it, I don't care, get something with at least a shred of personality...

Klayfish wrote: calteg and KyAllroad are both right. No matter how many different angles I look at it from, with my sometimes ugly commute, family needs, etc...the Prius is "the answer" from a logical perspective. It just is. But without a toy, so much of me wants to say berkeley it, I don't care, get something with at least a shred of personality...

Mod it?